Horseshoe Bay Resort -A Rock For All Ages

The Apple, Ram and Slick Rock Golf Courses at Horseshoe Bay Resort form a stellar combination of routings for serious golfers. This is one of the few golf resorts with three original Robert Trent Jones Sr. designs. Apple Rock is undergoing a complete renovation of bunkers, green shaping and formidable rock walls to highlight the difficulty of navigating the Texas Hill Country landscape. Set to open June of 2019, we can attest to the beauty and challenge this course will add to an outstanding display of resort golf. Cap Rock is the new clubhouse under construction on the hilltop overlooking the area with swimming pools, cabanas, restaurant and pro shop. You could say it will be the Top of the Rock for members and guests of Horseshoe Bay, also expected to complete in June.

Ram Rock is annually voted one of the most difficult courses in Texas, if not, the U.S. Live Oaks or Pin Oaks adorn each fairway and shape the rise and fall of fairway and greens with intersecting waterways – streams and ponds lined with elaborate stone walls. Bluebonnet flowers provide the purple and deep blue blanket of hill country landscape in the spring. Even without the famous bluebonnets, Ram Rock is gorgeous, like playing through a state park bordered by wooden ranch fencing. 

Slick Rock has wide fairways and gentle slopes for a more forgiving round of golf. There are enough bunkers and water features to challenge all skill levels. The highlight of Slick Rock is the million- dollar waterfalls that split the tee boxes from the fairway on 14, one of the most picturesque holes in all of golf. Both Ram Rock and Slick Rock have also been recently renovated.

Summit Rock is a bonus course for members and select guests, built topside with panoramic views of the wooded hills, white Yucca blooms and Lake LBJ. Comfort stations are full of snacks and beverages for grazing while you golf. The views are so good that artists often position their canvases throughout the course.

Another bonus is the Whitewater Putting Course playable day or night. This is not an ordinary putt putt deal for the faint of heart, but a real 18-hole course routed with little sand traps, doglegs and water hazards. The tropical setting is spectacular with waterfalls, lush vegetation, flowers and bird habitat. Exotic birds appear in cages thorough out the resort.

Dining

The Whitewater 360 Sports Club is situated in the midst of the putting course with floor to ceiling windows in the circular structure for watching the fun outside or sporting events on the big screens in the round.

Lantana is off the lobby of the resort tower, extending to the patio next to the pool serving Hill Country cuisine with a twist. Consider a cocktail with local distilled Dripping Springs Vodka, akin to Tito’s, or Texas’ Deep Eddy flavored vodkas or Rebecca’s Creek Whiskey. Local wines are also featured, and tours may be scheduled for these spots.

The Yacht Club Dining Room is an elegant lakeside setting where the chicken fried lobster is recommended. Reservations for the weekend must be made early in the week. If it is full, the adjacent Y Bar has a carryover menu and schedules live entertainment.

The Yacht Club and Marina

In addition to fine dining the beach bar in the pool area of the Yacht Club has a casual menu with lounge chairs for beachside gazing and multiple decks for sunbathing next to the large pool, all viewing the calm lake water. The largest jacuzzi in Texas is one of the most unique architectural designs we have seen. Large basalt pillars and granite spires dissect water zones making a maze. While pools are great for Marco Polo, stand up hide and seek could be played in this spa. The rock for all ages theme continues.

Horseshoe Bay Resort Marina

If you love water activities, the Horseshoe Bay Resort Marina has your back with a variety of boat and watercraft rentals. Pontoons, powerboats and jet skis are available for hourly or daily excursion to enjoy the scenic shoreline of LBJ Lake. Share a pontoon with 10 people for around $14/hr per person. That is enough time to zip around passing the peninsula with a lighthouse, multimillion-dollar homes and a grandfathered farmstead with cattle and camping spots available for a few bucks. Constant lake level water is assured for powering the plant. An all-day excursion might cover many miles of lake and river exploration or allow for lazy floating and swimming. Paddleboards and kayaks are available for shorter tours and more exercise.  Safety is a priority with marina personnel as each watercraft is inspected and proper operational instruction is given. The upcoming new restaurant and expanded dock and deck area will make this the place to be this summer.

Shuttles run efficiently to all parts of the resort which boasts a $70m dollar renovation. The money was well spent. Accommodations are freshly modern and spacious, with views of the pool, hills or lake. The Bayside Spa and Fitness center round out the amenities on the property. Horseshoe Bay Resort is a great venue for corporate outings, meetings and seminars with plenty of convention space. IAGTO (International Association of Golf Tour Operators) members will be very pleased attending their North American Convention here in June.

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Feature photo credit to Horseshoe Bay Resort Facebook page